Yes the test kit is crucial during cycling an aquarium. The API Test kit is what most of us use.
Cycling tank and water changes
- Thread starter Hank82
- Start date
Yes the test kit is crucial during cycling an aquarium. The API Test kit is what most of us use.
Without the addition of an inert, dormant bacterial culture that eats ammonia for a living, (prime is not a bacterial culture), it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to cycle a tank.
Cycling has nothing to do with chlorine.
As Deeda said its the tank acquiring a large enough population of active ammonia and nitrite consuming bacteria to eat any your fish produce ( I use the word eat rather loosely).
Just letting a tank sit with filters on, is not cycling.
Only small additions of ammonia, or live fish producing ammonia, will adequately cycle a tank, and if you use fish, you should expect them to die (might not, but you should expect it).
Without ammonia, good bacteria don't grow, and even adding a culture does not cycle a tank immediately.
Although some bacteria reproduce logarithmically, it still take a while to get enough of them to use all the ammonia a (some) fish can produce.
Another way to get it done more quickly is to plant enough plants (usually a lot) that they reduce the toxic amount.
I cycled my last 180 gallon tank by first planting heavily, and growing a ton of algae in my sump (AKA algae scrubber) then adding about 2 dozen 1" mosquito fish. With that method I never saw any ammonia, nitrite, and even now 5 months later, with a dozen cichlids, and a few others, no detectable nitrate (this was a surprise to me) but not unheard of with the plants (including algae out weighing the fish by 4 or 5 times wet weight.
Below the algae filled section of the sump
To answer about water changes, you don't start doing them until ammonia, and nitrite are undetectable, and nitrate starts to climb.
You could also hasten the process by taking bio-media from the filter of your goldfish (or some other) established tank. As long as it has been running with fish in it, until just before you add it to the new tank, the you add 1 or a few fish at the same time, to keep that media you just switched over to remain viable.
Cycling has nothing to do with chlorine.
As Deeda said its the tank acquiring a large enough population of active ammonia and nitrite consuming bacteria to eat any your fish produce ( I use the word eat rather loosely).
Just letting a tank sit with filters on, is not cycling.
Only small additions of ammonia, or live fish producing ammonia, will adequately cycle a tank, and if you use fish, you should expect them to die (might not, but you should expect it).
Without ammonia, good bacteria don't grow, and even adding a culture does not cycle a tank immediately.
Although some bacteria reproduce logarithmically, it still take a while to get enough of them to use all the ammonia a (some) fish can produce.
Another way to get it done more quickly is to plant enough plants (usually a lot) that they reduce the toxic amount.
I cycled my last 180 gallon tank by first planting heavily, and growing a ton of algae in my sump (AKA algae scrubber) then adding about 2 dozen 1" mosquito fish. With that method I never saw any ammonia, nitrite, and even now 5 months later, with a dozen cichlids, and a few others, no detectable nitrate (this was a surprise to me) but not unheard of with the plants (including algae out weighing the fish by 4 or 5 times wet weight.
Below the algae filled section of the sump
To answer about water changes, you don't start doing them until ammonia, and nitrite are undetectable, and nitrate starts to climb.
You could also hasten the process by taking bio-media from the filter of your goldfish (or some other) established tank. As long as it has been running with fish in it, until just before you add it to the new tank, the you add 1 or a few fish at the same time, to keep that media you just switched over to remain viable.
Thats exacly what he says. There is multiple ways to do it. You can search fishless cycle. I usually throws in a prawn or two thats allowed to decompose. You can do it by adding ammonia in the tank or as he said you can do it with an fish thats probable will end up dying.
I don't recommend using any fish to cycle a new tank so my answer is NO.
Here you go. Read and learn something both important and interesting
Cycling and You
Fishless tank cycling and associated information... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207575 http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203911 http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28654...
www.monsterfishkeepers.com
I don't mean this in a bad way but It sounds like you are way off the mark with your understanding of the nitrogen cycle. Without basic understanding of this vital component of our hobby then you will fail in your attempts to keep fish.
Fortunately there is masses of information out there. Take some time to read through the basics, and of course we will guide you as well.
Fortunately there is masses of information out there. Take some time to read through the basics, and of course we will guide you as well.
